UPDATED: Computer glitch affecting public assistance benefits fixed

Associated Press and Day Staff

Hartford — The Connecticut Department of Social Services says a computer glitch affecting debit-style cards for food stamps and other cash benefits has been fixed.

The service was restored shortly before 2 p.m., according to DSS.

"This means that SNAP (food stamps) and cash assistance recipients can use their EBT cards to access benefits, as normal," DSS said in a news release.

DSS reported earlier today that a computer breakdown was preventing public assistance recipients from using the cards to access their food stamps and other cash benefits.

DSS said it was notified of the problem Monday morning by J.P. Morgan Electronic Financial Services, the contractor used by Connecticut and other states to operate the electronic benefit transfer system.

The other affected states included New York, Florida, Indiana, South Carolina, West Virginia, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and the U.S. Virgin Islands.